Single layer and multilayer thin films of ceramic oxide materials, organic, and polymeric materials are currently being used for a wide range of basic and applied research. The thin films are grown by laser-based techniques, such as pulsed laser deposition and matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation. Applications for these films include oxide electronic materials for next-generation tunable microwave devices and polymer coatings for chemical and biological sensors, in addition to biomaterials for biological sensors. Prototype devices can be fabricated using conventional photolithography and tested from DC to 40 GHz. Basic studies of laser-based processing include characterizing the laser-solid interaction by analyzing the nature of the ejected species (mass, charge, and kinetic energy distributions), analysis of the interaction of vaporized species with ambient gas environments, and studies of the fundamental issues of film nucleation and growth. Facilities for growing the films include three PLD systems with a Lambda Physik 305i excimer laser and a Quantel pulsed YAG laser with frequency doubling and quintupling crystals; while facilities for characterizing films include x-ray diffraction, electronic backscattering, HR-scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Additional film characterization may be more device-specific such as measuring the dielectric constant and loss tangent, microwave surface resistance, or critical current. The materials demonstrated by this technique include conductors, dielectrics, resistors, ferrites, polymers, biological materials, and carbon nanotube polymer-composites.

 

key words

Ceramics; Electronic oxides; Transparent conductive oxides; Chemical sensors; Pulsed laser deposition (PLD); Sensors; Thin films;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants